In this
situation
they received intelligence of
their loss at sea.
their loss at sea.
Plutarch - Lives - v7
The space be-
tween the two armies the Romans call the plains of
Philippi. Two armies of Romans, equal in numbers
to these, had never before met to engage each other.
Caesar's was something superior in numbers; but, in
the splendor of arms and equipage, was far exceeded
by that of Brutus; for most of their arms were of gold
and silver, which their general had liberally bestowed
on them. Brutus, in other things, had accustomed his
officers to frugality; but the riches which his soldiers
carried about with them, would at once, he thought,
add to the spirit of the ambitious, and make the covet-
ous valiant in the defence of those arms which were
their principal wealth.
Caesar made a lustration of his army within the
camp, and gave each private man a little corn, and five
drachmas only for the sacrifice. But Brutus, to show
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
177
his contempt of the poverty, or the avarice of Caesar,
made a public lustration of his army in the field, and
not only distributed cattle to each cohort for the sacri-
fice, but gave fifty drachmas on the occasion to each
private man. Of course he was more beloved by his
soldiers, and they were more ready to fight for him.
It is reported that, during the lustration, an unlucky
omen happened to Cassius. The garland he was to
wear at the sacrifice was presented to him the wrong
side outwards. It is said too, that at a solemn pro-
cession, some time before, the person who bore the
golden image of Victory before Cassius happened to
stumble, and the image fell to the ground. Several
birds of prey hovered daily about the camp, and swarms
of bees were seen within the trenches. On which the
soothsayers ordered the part where they appeared to be
shut up: for Cassius, with all his Epicurean philoso-
phy, began to be superstitious, and the soldiers were
extremely disheartened by these omens.
For this reason Cassius was inclined to protract the
war, and unwilling to hazard the whole of the event of
a present engagement. What made for this measure too
was, that they were stronger in money and provisions,
but inferior in numbers. Brutus, on the other hand, was,
as usual, for an immediate decision; that he might either
give liberty to his country, or rescue his fellow-citizens
from the toils and expenses of war. He was encouraged
likewise by the success his cavalry met with in several
skirmishes; and some instances of desertion and mu-
tiny in the camp brought over many of the friends of
Cassius to his opinion. But there was one Atellius,
who still opposed an immediate decision, and advised
to put it off till the next winter. When Brutus asked
him what advantages he expected from that, he answered,
'If I gain nothing else, I shall at least live so much the
PLUT. VoL. VII. M
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? 178
PLUTARCH.
longer. ' Both Cassius and the rest of the officers were
displeased with this answer; and it was determined to
give battle the day following.
Brutus that night expressed great confidence and
cheerfulness; and having passed the time of supper in
philosophical conversation, he went to rest. Messala
says that Cassius supped in private with some of his
most intimate friends; and that, contrary to his usual
manner, he was pensive and silent. He adds, that after
supper he took him by the hand, and pressing it close,
as he commonly did, in token of his friendship, he said
in Greek,--' Bear witness, Messala, that I am reduced
to the same necessity with Pompey the Great, of ha-
zarding the liberty of my country on one battle. Yet
I have confidence in our good fortune, on which we
ought still to rely, though the measures we have re-
solved on are indiscreet. ' These, Messala tells us, ?
were the last words that Cassius spoke before he bade
him farewell; and that the next day, being his birth-
day, he invited Cassius to sup with him.
Next morning, as soon as it was light, the scarj/et
robe, which was the signal for battle, was hung out in
the tents of Brutus and Cassius; and they themselves
met on the plain between the- two armies. On this
occasion Cassius thus addressed himself to Brutus:--
'May the gods, Brutus, make this day successful, that
we may pass the rest of our days together in prosperity.
But as the most important of human events are the most
uncertain; and as we may never see each other any
more, if we are unfortunate on this occasion, tell me
what is your resolution concerning flight and death V
Brutus answered, 'In the younger and less expe-
rienced part of my life, I was led, on philosophical
principles, to condemn the conduct of Cato, in killing
himself. I thought it at once impious and unmanly
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
179
to sink beneath the stroke of fortune, and to refuse the
lot that had befallen us. In my present situation,
however, I am of a different opinion. So that if hea-
ven should now be unfavorable to our wishes, I will
no longer solicit my hopes or my fortune, but die con-
tented with it, such as it is. On the ides of March I
devoted my life to my country; and since that time I
have lived in liberty and glory. ' At these words Cas-
sius smiled, and embracing Brutus, said, 'Let us
march then against the enemy; for with these resolu-
tions, though we should not conquer, we have no-
thing to fear. ' They then consulted with their friends
concerning the order of battle. Brutus desired that
he might command the right wing, though the post was
thought more proper for Cassius on account of his ex-
perience. Cassius, however, gave it up to him, and
placed Messala, with the best of his legions, in the
same wing. Brutus immediately drew out his cavalry,
which were equipped with great magnificence; and the
foot followed close on them.
Antony's soldiers were at this time employed in
making a trench from the marsh where they were en-
camped, to cut off Cassius' communication with the
sea. Caesar lay still in his tent, confined by sickness.
His soldiers were far from expecting that the enemy
would come to a pitched battle. They supposed that
they were only making excursions to harass the
trench-diggers with their light arms; and not per-
ceiving that they were pouring in close on them, they
were astonished at the outcry they heard from the
trenches. Brutus, in the mean time, sent tickets to
the several officers with the word of battle, and rode
through the ranks to encourage his men. There were
few who had patience to wait for the word. The greatest
part, before it could reach them, fell with loud shouts
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? 180
PLUTARCH.
on the enemy. This precipitate onset threw the army
into confusion, and separated the legions. Messala's
legion first got beyond the left wing of Caesar, and
was followed by those that were stationed near him.
In their way they did nothing more than ttfrow some of
the outmost ranks into disorder, and killed few of the
enemy: their great object was to fall on Caesar's camp,
and they made directly up to it. Caesar himself, as he
tells ns in his Commentaries, had but just before been
conveyed out of his tent, in consequence of a vision
of his friend Artorius, which commanded that he should
be carried out of the camp. This made it believed
that he was slain; for the soldiers had pierced his
empty litter in many places with darts. Those who
were taken in the camp were put to the sword, amongst
whom were two thousand Lacedaemonian auxiliaries.
Those who attacked Caesar's legions in front easily
put them to the rout, and cut three legions in pieces.
After this, borne along with the impetuosity of victory,
they rushed into the camp at the same time with the fu-
gitives, and Brutus was in the midst of them. The flank
of Brutus' army was now left unguarded, by the separa-
tion of the right wing, which was gone off too far in
the pursuit; and the enemy perceiving this, endeavored
to take advantage of it. They accordingly attacked it
with great fury, but could make no impression on the
main body, which received them with firmness and un-
shaken resolution. The left wing, however, which
was under the command of Cassius, was soon put to the
rout; for the men were in great disorder, and knew no-
thing of what had passed in the right wing. The enemy
pursued him into the camp, which they plundered and
destroyed, though neither of their generals were pre-
sent. Antony, it is said, to avoid the fury of the first
onset, had retired into the adjoining marsh; and Caesar,
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
181
who had been carried sick out of the camp, was no
where to be found. Nay, some of the soldiers would
have persuaded Brutus that they had killed Caesar, de-
scribing his age and person, and showing him their
bloody swords.
The main body of Brutus' army had now made pro-
digious havoc of the enemy; and Brutus, in his de-
partment, was no less absolutely conquered than Cas-
sius was conquered. The want of knowing this was
the ruin of their affairs. Brutus neglected to relieve
Cassius, because he knew not that he wanted relief.
When Brutus had destroyed the camp of Caesar,
and was returning from the pursuit, he was surprised
that he could neither perceive the tent of Cassius above
the rest, as usual, nor any of those that were about it;
for they had been demolished by the enemy, on their
first entering the camp. Some, who were of quicker
sight than the rest, told him that they could perceive
a motion of shining helmets and silver targets in the
camp of Cassius, and supposed, from their numbers
and their armor, that they could not be those who were
left to guard the camp; though, at the same time, there
was not so great an appearance of dead bodies as there
must have been after the defeat of so many legions.
This gave Brutus the first suspicion of Cassius' mis-
fortune; and, leaving a sufficient guard in the enemy's
camp, he called off the rest from the pursuit, and led
them, in order, to the relief of Cassius.
The case of that general was this:--he was cha-
grined, at first, by the irregular conduct of Brutus'
soldiers, who began the attack without waiting for the
command; and, afterwards, by their attention to plun-
der, whereby they neglected to surround and cut off
the enemy. Thus dissatisfied, he trifled with his com-
mand, and, for want of vigilance, suffered himself to
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PLUTARCH.
be surrounded by the enemy's right wing; on which
his cavalry quitted their post, and fled towards the sea.
The foot likewise began to give way; and though he
labored as much as possible to stop their flight, and
snatching an ensign from the hand of one of the fugi-
tives, fixed it at his feet, yet he was hardly able to
keep his own pretorian band together: so that, at
length, he was obliged to retire, with a very small
number, to a hill that overlooked the plain. Yet here
he could discover nothing; for he was short-sighted,
and it was with some difficulty that he could perceive
his own camp plundered. His companions, however,
saw a large detachment of horse, which Brutus had
sent to their relief, making up to them. These Cassius
concluded to be the enemy that were in pursuit of him;
notwithstanding which, he despatched Titinius to re-
connoitre them. When the cavalry of Brutus saw this
faithful friend of Cassius approach, they shouted for
joy. His acquaintance leapt from their horses to em-
brace him, and the rest rode round him with clash-
ing of arms, and all the clamorous expressions of glad-
ness. This circumstance had a fatal effect. Cassius
took it for granted that Titinius was seized by the
enemy, and regretted that, through a weak desire of
life, he had suffered his friend to fall into their hands.
When he had expressed himself to this effect, he re-
tired into an empty tent, accompanied only by his
freedman Pindarus, whom, ever since the defeat of
Crassus, he had retained for a particular purpose. In
that defeat he escaped out of the hands of the Par-
thians; but now, wrapping his robe about his face, he
laid bare his neck, and commanded Pindarus to cut off
his head. This was done; for his head was found
severed from his body; but whether Pindarus did it
by his master's command, has been suspected; be-
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
18:5
cause he never afterwards appeared. It was soon dis-
covered who the cavalry were, and Titinius, crowned
with garlands, came to the place where he left Cassius.
When the lamentations of his friends informed him of
the unhappy fate of his general, he severely reproached
himself for the tardiness which had occasioned it, and
fell on his sword. '
Brutus, when he was assured of the defeat of Cassius,
made all possible haste to his relief; but he knew no-
thing of his death till he came up to his camp. There
he lamented over his body, and called him ' the last of
Romans;' intimating, that Rome would never produce
another man of equal spirit. He ordered his funeral
to be celebrated at Thasus, that it might not occasion
any disorder in the camp. His dispersedand dejected
soldiers he collected and encouraged; and as they
had been stripped of every thing by the enemy, he
promised them two thousand drachmas a man. This
munificence at once encouraged and surprised them:
they attended him at his departure with great accla-
mations, and complimented him as the only general of
the four who had not been beaten. Brutus was con-
fident of victory, and the event justified that con-
fidence; for, with a few legions, he overcame all that
opposed him; and if most of his soldiers had not
passed the enemy, in pursuit of plunder, the battle
must have been decisive in his favor. He lost eight
thousand men, including the servants, whom he calls
Briges. Messala says he supposes the enemy lost
more thau twice that number: and, of course, they
were more discouraged than Brutus, till Demetrius,
a servant of Cassius, went over to Antony in the even-
ing, and carried him his master's robe and sword,
which he had taken from the dead body. This so
effectually encouraged the enemy, that they were
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PLUTARCH.
drawn up in form of battle by break of day. Both
camps, in the occupation of Brutus, involved him in
difficulties. His own, full of prisoners, required a
strong guard. At the same time many of the soldiers
of Cassius murmured at their change of master, and
the vanquished were naturally envious and jealous of
the victors. He therefore thought proper to draw up
his army, but not to fight.
All the slaves he had taken prisoners, being found
practising with his soldiers, were put to the sword:
but most of the freemen and citizens were dismissed;
and he told them, at the same time, that they were
more truly prisoners in the hands of the enemy than
in his: with them, he said, they were slaves indeed;
but with him, freemen and citizens of Rome. He was
obliged however to dismiss them privately; for they
had implacable enemies amongst his own friends and
officers. Amongst the prisoners were Volumnius, a
mimic, and Saculio, a buffoon, of whom Brutus took
no notice till they were brought before him, and ac-
cused of continuing, even in their captivity, their scur-
rilous jests and abusive language. Yet, still taken up
with more important concerns, he paid no regard to
the accusation; but Messala Corvinus was of opinion
that they should be publicly whipped, and sent naked
to the enemy, as proper associates and convivial com-
panions for such generals. Some were entertained
with the idea, and laughed; but Publius Casca, the
first that wounded Caesar, observed that it was indecent
to celebrate the obsequies of Cassius with jesting and
laughter. 'As for you, Brutus,' said he, 'it will be
seen what esteem you have for the memory of that
general, when you have either punished or pardoned
those who ridicule and revile him. ' Brutus resented
this expostulation, and said, 'Why is this business
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
185
thrown on me, Casca? Why do not you do what you
think proper V This answer was considered as an as-
sent to their death; so the poor wretches were carried
off and slain.
He now gave the promised rewards to his soldiers;
and after gently rebuking them for beginning the as-
sault without waiting for the word of battle, he pro-
mised, that if they acquitted themselves to his satis-
faction in the next engagement, he would give them up
the cities of Lacedaemon and Thessalonica to plunder.
This is the only circumstance in his life for which no
apology can be made: for though Antony and Caesar
afterwards acted with more unbounded cruelty in re-
warding their soldiers; though they deprived most of
the ancient inhabitants of Italy of their lands, and gave
them to those who had no title to them ; yet they acted
consistently with their first principle, which was the
acquisition of empire and arbitrary power. But Bru-
tus maintained such a reputation for virtue, that he
was neither allowed to conquer, nor even to save him-
self, except on the strictest principles of honor and
justice; more particularly since the death of Cassius,
to whom, if any act of violence were committed, it was
generally imputed. However, as sailors, when their
rudder is broken in a storm, substitute some other
piece of wood in its place, and though they cannot
steer so well as before, do the best they can in their
necessity, so Brutus, at the head of so vast an army,
and such important affairs, unassisted by any officer
that was equal to the charge, was obliged to make use
of such advisers as he had; and he generally followed
the counsel of those who proposed any thing that might
bring Cassius' soldiers to order: for these were ex-
tremely untractable; insolent in the camp for want of
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? 186
PLUTARCH.
their general, though cowardly in the field, from the
remembrance of their defeat.
The affairs of Caesar and Antony were not in a much
better condition. Provisions were scarce, and the
marshy situation of their camp made them dread the
winter. They already began to fear the inconveniences
of it; for the autumnal rains had fallen heavy after the
battle, and their tents were filled with mire and water;
which, from the coldness of the weather, immediately
froze.
In this situation they received intelligence of
their loss at sea. Their fleet, which was coming from
Italy with a large supply of soldiers, was met by that
of Brutus, and so totally defeated, that the few who
escaped were reduced by famine to eat the sails and
tackle of the ships. It was now determined, on Cae-
sar's side, that they should come to battle before Bru-
tus was made acquainted with his success. It appears
that the fight, both by sea and land, was on the same
day; but, by some accident, rather than the fault of
their officers, Brutus knew nothing of his victory till
twenty days after. Had he been informed of it, he
would never, certainly, have hazarded a second battle;
for he had provisions sufficient for a considerable length
of time, and his army was so advantageously posted,
that it was safe both from the injuries of the weather
and the incursions of the enemy. Besides, knowing
that he was wholly master at sea, and partly victorious
by land, he would have had every thing imaginable to
encourage him, and could not have been urged to any
dangerous measures by despair.
But it seems that the republican form of government
was no longer to subsist in Rome; that it necessarily
required a monarchy; and that Providence, to remove
the only man who could oppose its destined master,
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
187
kept the knowlege of that victory from him till it was
too late. And yet, how near was he to receiving the
intelligence! The very evening before the engage-
ment a deserter, named Clodius, came over from the
enemy to tell him that Caesar was informed of the loss
of his fleet, and that this was the reason of his hasten-
ing the battle. The deserter, however, was considered
either as designing or ill informed: his intelligence
was disregarded, and he was not even admitted into
the presence of Brutus.
That night, they say, the spectre appeared again to
Brutus, and assumed its former figure, but vanished
without speaking. Yet Publius Volumnius, a philo-
sophical man, who had borne arms with Brutus during
the whole war, makes no mention of this prodigy;
though he says that the first standard was covered
with a swarm of bees; and that the arm of one of the
officers sweated oil of roses, which would not cease
though they often wiped it off. He says too, that im-
mediately before the battle two eagles fought in the
space between the two armies; and that there was an
incredible silence and attention in the field, till that on
the side of Brutus was beaten and flew away. The
story of the Ethiopian is well known, who, meeting the
standard-bearer opening the gate of the camp, was cut
in pieces by the soldiers; for that they interpreted as
an ill omen.
When Brutus had drawn up his army in form of
battle, he paused some time before he gave the word.
While he was visiting the ranks, he had suspicions of
some, and heard accusations of others. The cavalry
he found had no ardor for the attack, but seemed wait-
ing to see what the foot would do. Besides, Camula-
tus, a soldier in the highest estimation for valor, rode
close by Brutus, and went over to the enemy in his
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PLUTARCH.
sight. This hurt him inexpressibly ; and, partly out of
anger, partly from fear of farther desertion and trea-
chery, he led his forces against the enemy about three
in the afternoon. Where he fought in person he was
still successful. He charged the enemy's left wing,
and the cavalry following the impression which the
foot had made, it was put to the rout. But when the
other wing of Brutus was ordered to advance, the infe-
riority of their numbers made them apprehensive that
they should be surrounded by the enemy. For this
reason they extended their ranks in order to cover
more ground; by which means the centre of the wing
was so much weakened, that it could not sustain the
shock of the enemy, but fled at the first onset. After
their dispersion, the enemy surrounded Brutus, who
did every thing that the bravest and most expert ge-
neral could do in his situation, and whose conduct at
least intitled him to victory. But what seemed an ad-
vantage in the first engagement proved a disadvantage
in the second. In the former battle, that wing of the
enemy which was conquered was totally cut off; but
most of the men in the conquered wing of Cassius were
saved. This, at the time, might appear an advantage,
but it proved a prejudice. The remembrance of their
former defeat filled them with terror and confusion,
which they spread through the greatest part of the
army.
Marcus, the son of Cato, was slain fighting amidst
the bravest of the young nobility. He scorned alike
either to fly or to yield ; but, avowing who he was, and
assuming his father's name, still used his sword, till he
fell on the heaps of the slaughtered enemy. Many
other brave men, who exposed themselves for the pre-
servation of Brutus, fell at the same time.
Lucilius, a man of great worth, and his intimate
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
189
friend, observed some barbarian horse riding full speed
against Brutus in particular, and was determined to
stop them, though at the hazard of his own life. He
therefore told them that he was Brutus; and they be-
lieved him, because he pretended to be afraid of Cae-
sar, and desired to be conveyed to Antony. Exulting
in their capture, and thinking themselves peculiarly
fortunate, they carried him along with them by night;
having previously sent an account to Antony of their
success, who was infinitely pleased with it, and came
out to them. Many others, likewise, when they heard
that Brutus was brought alive, assembled to see him:
and some pitied his misfortunes, while others accused
him of an inglorious meanness, in suffering the love of
life to betray him into the hands of barbarians. When
he approached, and Antony was deliberating in what
manner he should receive Brutus, Lucilius first ad-
dressed him, and with great intrepidity said, ' Antony,
be assured that Brutus neither is, nor will, be taken
by an enemy. Forbid it Heaven, that Fortune should
have such a triumph over Virtue! Whether he shall
be found alive or dead, he will be found in a state be-
coming Brutus. I imposed on your soldiers, and am
prepared to suffer the worst you can inflict on me. '
Thus spoke Lucilius, to the no small astonishment of
those that were present; when Antony, addressing
himself to those that brought him, said, 'I perceive,
fellow-soldiers, that you are angry at this imposition
of Lucilius; but you have really got a better booty
than you intended. You sought an enemy; but you
have brought me a friend. I know not how I should
have treated Brutus, had you brought him alive; but I
am sure that it is better to have such a man as Luci-
lius for a friend than for an enemy. ' When he said
this he embraced Lucilius, recommending him to the
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PLUTARCH.
care of one of his friends; and he ever after found him
faithful to his interest.
Brutus, attended by a few of his officers and friends,
having passed a brook that was overhung with cliffs,
and shaded with trees, and being overtaken by night,
stopped in a cavity under a large rock. There, cast-
ing his eyes on the heavens, which were covered with
stars, he repeated two verses; one of which, Volum-
nius tells us, was this: .
Forgive not, Jove, the cause of this distress!
The other, he says, had escaped his memory. On
enumerating the several friends that had fallen before
his eyes in the battle, he sighed deeply at the mention
of Flavius and Labeo; the latter of whom was his
lieutenant, and the former master of the band of arti-
ficers. In the mean while, one of his attendants being
thirsty, and observing Brutus in the same condition,
took his helmet, and went to the brook for water. At
the same time a noise was heard on the opposite bank,
and Volumnius and Dardanus the armor-bearer went
to see what it was. In a short time they returned, and
asked for the water: 'It is all drank up,' said Brutus,
with a smile; 'but another helmet-full shall be fetched. '
The man who had brought the first water was there-
fore sent again; but he was wounded by the enemy,
and made his escape with difficulty.
As Brutus supposed that he had not lost many men
in the battle, Statilius undertook to make his way
through the enemy (for there was no other way) and
see in what condition their camp was. If things were
safe there, he was to hold up a torch for a signal, and
return. He got safe to the camp; for the torch was
held up. But a long time elapsed, and he did not
return. 'If Statilius were alive,' said Brutus, 'he
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
191
would be here. ' In his return he fell into the enemy's
hands and was slain.
The night was now far spent; when Brutus, leaning
his head towards his servant Clitus, whispered some-
thing in his ear. Clitus made no answer, but burst
into tears. After that he took his armor-bearer Dar-
danus aside, and said something to him in private. At
last addressing himself to Volumuius in Greek, he in-
treated him, in memory of their common studies and
exercises, to put his hand to his sword, and help him
to give the thrust. Volumnius, as well as several
others, refused: and one of them observing that they
must necessarily fly; 'We must fly, indeed,' said Bru-
tus, rising hastily, 'but not with our feet, but with our
hands. ' He then took each of them by the hand, and
spoke with great appearance of cheerfulness, to the
following purpose: 'It is an infinite satisfaction to
me that all my friends have been faithful. If I am
angry with Fortune, it is for the sake of my country.
Myself I esteem more happy than the conquerors; not
only in respect of the past, but in my present situation.
I shall leave behind me that reputation for virtue, which
they, with all their wealth and power, will never acquire:
for posterity will not scruple to believe and declare, that
they were an abandoned 6et of men, who destroyed the
virtuous, for the sake of that empire to which they had
no right? After this he intreated them severally to pro-
vide for their own safety, and withdrew with only two
or three of his most intimate friends. One of these was
Strato, with whom he first became acquainted when they
studied rhetoric. This friend he placed next to him-
self, and laying hold of the hilt of his sword with both
his hands, he fell on the point, and died. Some say
that Strato, at the earnest request of Brutus, turned
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? 192
PLUTARCH.
aside his bead, and held the sword; on which he threw
himself with such violence that, entering at his breast,
it passed quite through his body, and he immediately
expired.
Messala, the friend of Brutus, after he was recon-
ciled to Caesar, took occasion to recommend Strato to
his favor. 'This,' said he, with tears, ' is the man who
did the last kind office for my dear Brutus. ' Caesar re-
ceived him with kindness; and he was one of those
brave Greeks who afterwards attended him at the bat-
tle of Actium. Of Messala, it is said, that when Caesar
observed he bad been no less zealous in his service at
Actium than he had been against him at Philippi, he
answered, 'I have always taken the best and justest
side. ' When Antony found the body of Brutus, he
ordered it to be covered with the richest robe he had;
and that being stolen, he put the thief to death. The
ashes of Brutus he sent to his mother Servilia.
With regard to Porcia, his wife, Nicolaus the philo-
sopher, and Valerius Maximus, tell us, that being pre-
vented from that death she wished for, by the constant
vigilance of her friends, she snatched some burning
coals from the fire, and shut them close in her mouth,
till she was suffocated. Notwithstanding, there is a
letter from Brutus to his friends still extant, in which
he laments the death of Porcia, and complains that
their neglect of her must have made her prefer death
to the continuance of her illness: so that Nicolaus
appears to have been mistaken in the time, at least, if
this epistle be authentic; for it describes Porcia's
distemper, her conjugal affection, and the manner of
her death.
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? DIoN AND BRUTUS CoMPARED. 193
DION AND BRUTUS COMPARED.
WHAt is principally to be admired in the lives of Dion
and Brutus, is their rising to such importance from in-
considerable beginnings. But here Dion has the ad-
vantage; for, in the progress of glory, he had no co-
adjutor: whereas Cassius went hand in hand with Bru-
tus; and though, in the reputation of virtue and honor,
he was by no means his equal, in military experience,
resolution and activity, he was not inferior. Some
have imputed to him the origin of the whole enter-
prise, and have asserted that Brutus would never
otherwise have engaged in it. But Dion, at the same
time that he made the whole military preparations him-
self, engaged the friends and associates of his design.
He did not, like Brutus, gain power and riches from
the war; he employed that wealth on which he was to
subsist as an exile in a foreign country, in restoring
the liberties of his own. When Brutus and Cassius
fled from Rome, and found no asylum from the pursuit
of their enemies, their only resource was war; and
they took up arms as much in their own defence as in
that of the common liberty. Dion, on the contrary,
was happier in his banishment than the tyrant that
banished him; and yet he voluntarily exposed himself
to danger for the freedom of Sicily. Besides, to deliver
the Romans from Caesar, and the Syracusans from Dio-
nysius, were enterprises of a very different kind. Diony-
sius was an avowed and established tyrant; and Sicily,
with reason, groaned beneath his yoke. But with re-
spect to Caesar, though, whilst his imperial power was
iu its infancy, he treated his opponents with severity;
yet, as soon as that power was confirmed, the tyranny
was rather a nominal than real thing; for no tyrannical
PLUT. VoL. VII. N
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? 194 ? PLUTARCH.
action could be laid to his charge. Nay, such was the
condition of Rome, that it evidently required a master;
and Caesar was no more than a tender and skilful phy-
sician, appointed by Providence to heal the distempers
of the state. Of course the people lamented his death,
and were implacably enraged against his assassins.
Dion, on the contrary, was reproached by the Syracu-
sans for suffering Dionysius to escape, and not digging
up the former tyrant's grave.
With regard to their military conduct, Dion, as a
general, was without a fault: he not only made the
most of his own instructions, but, where others failed,
he happily repaired the error. But it was wrong in
Brutus to hazard a second battle, where all was at
stake. And when that battle was lost, he had neither
sagacity enough to think of new resources, nor spirit,
like Pompey, to contend with fortune, though he had
still reason to rely on his troops, and was absolute
master at sea.
But what Brutus is chiefly blamed for, was his in-
gratitude to Caesar. He owed his life to his favor, as
well as the lives of those prisoners for whom he inter-
ceded. He was treated as his friend, and distinguished
with particular marks of honor; and yet he imbrued
his hands in the blood of his benefactor. Dion stands
clear of any charge like this. As a relation of Diony-
sius, he assisted and was useful to him in the adminis-
tration; in which case his services were equal to his
honors. When he was driven into exile, and de-
prived of his wife and his fortune, he had every mo-
tive that was just and honorable to take up arms
against him.
Yet if this circumstance is considered in another
light, Brutus will have the advantage. The greatest
glory of both consists in their abhorrence of tyrants,
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? DIoN AND BRUTUS CoMPARED. 195
I
and their criminal measures. This, in Brutus, was not
blended with any other motive. He had no quarrel
with Caesar; but exposed his life for the liberty of his
country. Had not Dion been injured, he had not
fought. This is clear from Plato's epistles; where it
appears that he was banished from the court of Dio-
nysius, and in consequence of that banishment made
war on him. For the good of the community, Brutus,
though an enemy to Pompey, became his friend; and
though a friend to Caesar, he became his enemy. His
enmity and his friendship arose from the same princi-
ple, which was justice. But Dion, whilst in favor, em-
ployed his services for Dionysius; and it was not till
he was disgraced that he armed against him. Of course
his friends were not quite satisfied with his enterprise.
They were apprehensive that when he had destroyed
the tyrant he might seize the government himself, and
amuse the people with some softer title than that of
tyranny. On the other hand, the very enemies of Bru-
tus acknowlege that he was the only conspirator who
had no other view than that of restoring the ancient
form of government.
Besides, the enterprise against Dionysius cannot be
placed in competition with that against Caesar. The
former had rendered himself contemptible by his low-
manners, his drunkenness, and debauchery.
tween the two armies the Romans call the plains of
Philippi. Two armies of Romans, equal in numbers
to these, had never before met to engage each other.
Caesar's was something superior in numbers; but, in
the splendor of arms and equipage, was far exceeded
by that of Brutus; for most of their arms were of gold
and silver, which their general had liberally bestowed
on them. Brutus, in other things, had accustomed his
officers to frugality; but the riches which his soldiers
carried about with them, would at once, he thought,
add to the spirit of the ambitious, and make the covet-
ous valiant in the defence of those arms which were
their principal wealth.
Caesar made a lustration of his army within the
camp, and gave each private man a little corn, and five
drachmas only for the sacrifice. But Brutus, to show
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
177
his contempt of the poverty, or the avarice of Caesar,
made a public lustration of his army in the field, and
not only distributed cattle to each cohort for the sacri-
fice, but gave fifty drachmas on the occasion to each
private man. Of course he was more beloved by his
soldiers, and they were more ready to fight for him.
It is reported that, during the lustration, an unlucky
omen happened to Cassius. The garland he was to
wear at the sacrifice was presented to him the wrong
side outwards. It is said too, that at a solemn pro-
cession, some time before, the person who bore the
golden image of Victory before Cassius happened to
stumble, and the image fell to the ground. Several
birds of prey hovered daily about the camp, and swarms
of bees were seen within the trenches. On which the
soothsayers ordered the part where they appeared to be
shut up: for Cassius, with all his Epicurean philoso-
phy, began to be superstitious, and the soldiers were
extremely disheartened by these omens.
For this reason Cassius was inclined to protract the
war, and unwilling to hazard the whole of the event of
a present engagement. What made for this measure too
was, that they were stronger in money and provisions,
but inferior in numbers. Brutus, on the other hand, was,
as usual, for an immediate decision; that he might either
give liberty to his country, or rescue his fellow-citizens
from the toils and expenses of war. He was encouraged
likewise by the success his cavalry met with in several
skirmishes; and some instances of desertion and mu-
tiny in the camp brought over many of the friends of
Cassius to his opinion. But there was one Atellius,
who still opposed an immediate decision, and advised
to put it off till the next winter. When Brutus asked
him what advantages he expected from that, he answered,
'If I gain nothing else, I shall at least live so much the
PLUT. VoL. VII. M
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? 178
PLUTARCH.
longer. ' Both Cassius and the rest of the officers were
displeased with this answer; and it was determined to
give battle the day following.
Brutus that night expressed great confidence and
cheerfulness; and having passed the time of supper in
philosophical conversation, he went to rest. Messala
says that Cassius supped in private with some of his
most intimate friends; and that, contrary to his usual
manner, he was pensive and silent. He adds, that after
supper he took him by the hand, and pressing it close,
as he commonly did, in token of his friendship, he said
in Greek,--' Bear witness, Messala, that I am reduced
to the same necessity with Pompey the Great, of ha-
zarding the liberty of my country on one battle. Yet
I have confidence in our good fortune, on which we
ought still to rely, though the measures we have re-
solved on are indiscreet. ' These, Messala tells us, ?
were the last words that Cassius spoke before he bade
him farewell; and that the next day, being his birth-
day, he invited Cassius to sup with him.
Next morning, as soon as it was light, the scarj/et
robe, which was the signal for battle, was hung out in
the tents of Brutus and Cassius; and they themselves
met on the plain between the- two armies. On this
occasion Cassius thus addressed himself to Brutus:--
'May the gods, Brutus, make this day successful, that
we may pass the rest of our days together in prosperity.
But as the most important of human events are the most
uncertain; and as we may never see each other any
more, if we are unfortunate on this occasion, tell me
what is your resolution concerning flight and death V
Brutus answered, 'In the younger and less expe-
rienced part of my life, I was led, on philosophical
principles, to condemn the conduct of Cato, in killing
himself. I thought it at once impious and unmanly
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
179
to sink beneath the stroke of fortune, and to refuse the
lot that had befallen us. In my present situation,
however, I am of a different opinion. So that if hea-
ven should now be unfavorable to our wishes, I will
no longer solicit my hopes or my fortune, but die con-
tented with it, such as it is. On the ides of March I
devoted my life to my country; and since that time I
have lived in liberty and glory. ' At these words Cas-
sius smiled, and embracing Brutus, said, 'Let us
march then against the enemy; for with these resolu-
tions, though we should not conquer, we have no-
thing to fear. ' They then consulted with their friends
concerning the order of battle. Brutus desired that
he might command the right wing, though the post was
thought more proper for Cassius on account of his ex-
perience. Cassius, however, gave it up to him, and
placed Messala, with the best of his legions, in the
same wing. Brutus immediately drew out his cavalry,
which were equipped with great magnificence; and the
foot followed close on them.
Antony's soldiers were at this time employed in
making a trench from the marsh where they were en-
camped, to cut off Cassius' communication with the
sea. Caesar lay still in his tent, confined by sickness.
His soldiers were far from expecting that the enemy
would come to a pitched battle. They supposed that
they were only making excursions to harass the
trench-diggers with their light arms; and not per-
ceiving that they were pouring in close on them, they
were astonished at the outcry they heard from the
trenches. Brutus, in the mean time, sent tickets to
the several officers with the word of battle, and rode
through the ranks to encourage his men. There were
few who had patience to wait for the word. The greatest
part, before it could reach them, fell with loud shouts
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? 180
PLUTARCH.
on the enemy. This precipitate onset threw the army
into confusion, and separated the legions. Messala's
legion first got beyond the left wing of Caesar, and
was followed by those that were stationed near him.
In their way they did nothing more than ttfrow some of
the outmost ranks into disorder, and killed few of the
enemy: their great object was to fall on Caesar's camp,
and they made directly up to it. Caesar himself, as he
tells ns in his Commentaries, had but just before been
conveyed out of his tent, in consequence of a vision
of his friend Artorius, which commanded that he should
be carried out of the camp. This made it believed
that he was slain; for the soldiers had pierced his
empty litter in many places with darts. Those who
were taken in the camp were put to the sword, amongst
whom were two thousand Lacedaemonian auxiliaries.
Those who attacked Caesar's legions in front easily
put them to the rout, and cut three legions in pieces.
After this, borne along with the impetuosity of victory,
they rushed into the camp at the same time with the fu-
gitives, and Brutus was in the midst of them. The flank
of Brutus' army was now left unguarded, by the separa-
tion of the right wing, which was gone off too far in
the pursuit; and the enemy perceiving this, endeavored
to take advantage of it. They accordingly attacked it
with great fury, but could make no impression on the
main body, which received them with firmness and un-
shaken resolution. The left wing, however, which
was under the command of Cassius, was soon put to the
rout; for the men were in great disorder, and knew no-
thing of what had passed in the right wing. The enemy
pursued him into the camp, which they plundered and
destroyed, though neither of their generals were pre-
sent. Antony, it is said, to avoid the fury of the first
onset, had retired into the adjoining marsh; and Caesar,
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
181
who had been carried sick out of the camp, was no
where to be found. Nay, some of the soldiers would
have persuaded Brutus that they had killed Caesar, de-
scribing his age and person, and showing him their
bloody swords.
The main body of Brutus' army had now made pro-
digious havoc of the enemy; and Brutus, in his de-
partment, was no less absolutely conquered than Cas-
sius was conquered. The want of knowing this was
the ruin of their affairs. Brutus neglected to relieve
Cassius, because he knew not that he wanted relief.
When Brutus had destroyed the camp of Caesar,
and was returning from the pursuit, he was surprised
that he could neither perceive the tent of Cassius above
the rest, as usual, nor any of those that were about it;
for they had been demolished by the enemy, on their
first entering the camp. Some, who were of quicker
sight than the rest, told him that they could perceive
a motion of shining helmets and silver targets in the
camp of Cassius, and supposed, from their numbers
and their armor, that they could not be those who were
left to guard the camp; though, at the same time, there
was not so great an appearance of dead bodies as there
must have been after the defeat of so many legions.
This gave Brutus the first suspicion of Cassius' mis-
fortune; and, leaving a sufficient guard in the enemy's
camp, he called off the rest from the pursuit, and led
them, in order, to the relief of Cassius.
The case of that general was this:--he was cha-
grined, at first, by the irregular conduct of Brutus'
soldiers, who began the attack without waiting for the
command; and, afterwards, by their attention to plun-
der, whereby they neglected to surround and cut off
the enemy. Thus dissatisfied, he trifled with his com-
mand, and, for want of vigilance, suffered himself to
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? 182
PLUTARCH.
be surrounded by the enemy's right wing; on which
his cavalry quitted their post, and fled towards the sea.
The foot likewise began to give way; and though he
labored as much as possible to stop their flight, and
snatching an ensign from the hand of one of the fugi-
tives, fixed it at his feet, yet he was hardly able to
keep his own pretorian band together: so that, at
length, he was obliged to retire, with a very small
number, to a hill that overlooked the plain. Yet here
he could discover nothing; for he was short-sighted,
and it was with some difficulty that he could perceive
his own camp plundered. His companions, however,
saw a large detachment of horse, which Brutus had
sent to their relief, making up to them. These Cassius
concluded to be the enemy that were in pursuit of him;
notwithstanding which, he despatched Titinius to re-
connoitre them. When the cavalry of Brutus saw this
faithful friend of Cassius approach, they shouted for
joy. His acquaintance leapt from their horses to em-
brace him, and the rest rode round him with clash-
ing of arms, and all the clamorous expressions of glad-
ness. This circumstance had a fatal effect. Cassius
took it for granted that Titinius was seized by the
enemy, and regretted that, through a weak desire of
life, he had suffered his friend to fall into their hands.
When he had expressed himself to this effect, he re-
tired into an empty tent, accompanied only by his
freedman Pindarus, whom, ever since the defeat of
Crassus, he had retained for a particular purpose. In
that defeat he escaped out of the hands of the Par-
thians; but now, wrapping his robe about his face, he
laid bare his neck, and commanded Pindarus to cut off
his head. This was done; for his head was found
severed from his body; but whether Pindarus did it
by his master's command, has been suspected; be-
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
18:5
cause he never afterwards appeared. It was soon dis-
covered who the cavalry were, and Titinius, crowned
with garlands, came to the place where he left Cassius.
When the lamentations of his friends informed him of
the unhappy fate of his general, he severely reproached
himself for the tardiness which had occasioned it, and
fell on his sword. '
Brutus, when he was assured of the defeat of Cassius,
made all possible haste to his relief; but he knew no-
thing of his death till he came up to his camp. There
he lamented over his body, and called him ' the last of
Romans;' intimating, that Rome would never produce
another man of equal spirit. He ordered his funeral
to be celebrated at Thasus, that it might not occasion
any disorder in the camp. His dispersedand dejected
soldiers he collected and encouraged; and as they
had been stripped of every thing by the enemy, he
promised them two thousand drachmas a man. This
munificence at once encouraged and surprised them:
they attended him at his departure with great accla-
mations, and complimented him as the only general of
the four who had not been beaten. Brutus was con-
fident of victory, and the event justified that con-
fidence; for, with a few legions, he overcame all that
opposed him; and if most of his soldiers had not
passed the enemy, in pursuit of plunder, the battle
must have been decisive in his favor. He lost eight
thousand men, including the servants, whom he calls
Briges. Messala says he supposes the enemy lost
more thau twice that number: and, of course, they
were more discouraged than Brutus, till Demetrius,
a servant of Cassius, went over to Antony in the even-
ing, and carried him his master's robe and sword,
which he had taken from the dead body. This so
effectually encouraged the enemy, that they were
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? 184
PLUTARCH.
drawn up in form of battle by break of day. Both
camps, in the occupation of Brutus, involved him in
difficulties. His own, full of prisoners, required a
strong guard. At the same time many of the soldiers
of Cassius murmured at their change of master, and
the vanquished were naturally envious and jealous of
the victors. He therefore thought proper to draw up
his army, but not to fight.
All the slaves he had taken prisoners, being found
practising with his soldiers, were put to the sword:
but most of the freemen and citizens were dismissed;
and he told them, at the same time, that they were
more truly prisoners in the hands of the enemy than
in his: with them, he said, they were slaves indeed;
but with him, freemen and citizens of Rome. He was
obliged however to dismiss them privately; for they
had implacable enemies amongst his own friends and
officers. Amongst the prisoners were Volumnius, a
mimic, and Saculio, a buffoon, of whom Brutus took
no notice till they were brought before him, and ac-
cused of continuing, even in their captivity, their scur-
rilous jests and abusive language. Yet, still taken up
with more important concerns, he paid no regard to
the accusation; but Messala Corvinus was of opinion
that they should be publicly whipped, and sent naked
to the enemy, as proper associates and convivial com-
panions for such generals. Some were entertained
with the idea, and laughed; but Publius Casca, the
first that wounded Caesar, observed that it was indecent
to celebrate the obsequies of Cassius with jesting and
laughter. 'As for you, Brutus,' said he, 'it will be
seen what esteem you have for the memory of that
general, when you have either punished or pardoned
those who ridicule and revile him. ' Brutus resented
this expostulation, and said, 'Why is this business
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
185
thrown on me, Casca? Why do not you do what you
think proper V This answer was considered as an as-
sent to their death; so the poor wretches were carried
off and slain.
He now gave the promised rewards to his soldiers;
and after gently rebuking them for beginning the as-
sault without waiting for the word of battle, he pro-
mised, that if they acquitted themselves to his satis-
faction in the next engagement, he would give them up
the cities of Lacedaemon and Thessalonica to plunder.
This is the only circumstance in his life for which no
apology can be made: for though Antony and Caesar
afterwards acted with more unbounded cruelty in re-
warding their soldiers; though they deprived most of
the ancient inhabitants of Italy of their lands, and gave
them to those who had no title to them ; yet they acted
consistently with their first principle, which was the
acquisition of empire and arbitrary power. But Bru-
tus maintained such a reputation for virtue, that he
was neither allowed to conquer, nor even to save him-
self, except on the strictest principles of honor and
justice; more particularly since the death of Cassius,
to whom, if any act of violence were committed, it was
generally imputed. However, as sailors, when their
rudder is broken in a storm, substitute some other
piece of wood in its place, and though they cannot
steer so well as before, do the best they can in their
necessity, so Brutus, at the head of so vast an army,
and such important affairs, unassisted by any officer
that was equal to the charge, was obliged to make use
of such advisers as he had; and he generally followed
the counsel of those who proposed any thing that might
bring Cassius' soldiers to order: for these were ex-
tremely untractable; insolent in the camp for want of
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? 186
PLUTARCH.
their general, though cowardly in the field, from the
remembrance of their defeat.
The affairs of Caesar and Antony were not in a much
better condition. Provisions were scarce, and the
marshy situation of their camp made them dread the
winter. They already began to fear the inconveniences
of it; for the autumnal rains had fallen heavy after the
battle, and their tents were filled with mire and water;
which, from the coldness of the weather, immediately
froze.
In this situation they received intelligence of
their loss at sea. Their fleet, which was coming from
Italy with a large supply of soldiers, was met by that
of Brutus, and so totally defeated, that the few who
escaped were reduced by famine to eat the sails and
tackle of the ships. It was now determined, on Cae-
sar's side, that they should come to battle before Bru-
tus was made acquainted with his success. It appears
that the fight, both by sea and land, was on the same
day; but, by some accident, rather than the fault of
their officers, Brutus knew nothing of his victory till
twenty days after. Had he been informed of it, he
would never, certainly, have hazarded a second battle;
for he had provisions sufficient for a considerable length
of time, and his army was so advantageously posted,
that it was safe both from the injuries of the weather
and the incursions of the enemy. Besides, knowing
that he was wholly master at sea, and partly victorious
by land, he would have had every thing imaginable to
encourage him, and could not have been urged to any
dangerous measures by despair.
But it seems that the republican form of government
was no longer to subsist in Rome; that it necessarily
required a monarchy; and that Providence, to remove
the only man who could oppose its destined master,
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
187
kept the knowlege of that victory from him till it was
too late. And yet, how near was he to receiving the
intelligence! The very evening before the engage-
ment a deserter, named Clodius, came over from the
enemy to tell him that Caesar was informed of the loss
of his fleet, and that this was the reason of his hasten-
ing the battle. The deserter, however, was considered
either as designing or ill informed: his intelligence
was disregarded, and he was not even admitted into
the presence of Brutus.
That night, they say, the spectre appeared again to
Brutus, and assumed its former figure, but vanished
without speaking. Yet Publius Volumnius, a philo-
sophical man, who had borne arms with Brutus during
the whole war, makes no mention of this prodigy;
though he says that the first standard was covered
with a swarm of bees; and that the arm of one of the
officers sweated oil of roses, which would not cease
though they often wiped it off. He says too, that im-
mediately before the battle two eagles fought in the
space between the two armies; and that there was an
incredible silence and attention in the field, till that on
the side of Brutus was beaten and flew away. The
story of the Ethiopian is well known, who, meeting the
standard-bearer opening the gate of the camp, was cut
in pieces by the soldiers; for that they interpreted as
an ill omen.
When Brutus had drawn up his army in form of
battle, he paused some time before he gave the word.
While he was visiting the ranks, he had suspicions of
some, and heard accusations of others. The cavalry
he found had no ardor for the attack, but seemed wait-
ing to see what the foot would do. Besides, Camula-
tus, a soldier in the highest estimation for valor, rode
close by Brutus, and went over to the enemy in his
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? 188
PLUTARCH.
sight. This hurt him inexpressibly ; and, partly out of
anger, partly from fear of farther desertion and trea-
chery, he led his forces against the enemy about three
in the afternoon. Where he fought in person he was
still successful. He charged the enemy's left wing,
and the cavalry following the impression which the
foot had made, it was put to the rout. But when the
other wing of Brutus was ordered to advance, the infe-
riority of their numbers made them apprehensive that
they should be surrounded by the enemy. For this
reason they extended their ranks in order to cover
more ground; by which means the centre of the wing
was so much weakened, that it could not sustain the
shock of the enemy, but fled at the first onset. After
their dispersion, the enemy surrounded Brutus, who
did every thing that the bravest and most expert ge-
neral could do in his situation, and whose conduct at
least intitled him to victory. But what seemed an ad-
vantage in the first engagement proved a disadvantage
in the second. In the former battle, that wing of the
enemy which was conquered was totally cut off; but
most of the men in the conquered wing of Cassius were
saved. This, at the time, might appear an advantage,
but it proved a prejudice. The remembrance of their
former defeat filled them with terror and confusion,
which they spread through the greatest part of the
army.
Marcus, the son of Cato, was slain fighting amidst
the bravest of the young nobility. He scorned alike
either to fly or to yield ; but, avowing who he was, and
assuming his father's name, still used his sword, till he
fell on the heaps of the slaughtered enemy. Many
other brave men, who exposed themselves for the pre-
servation of Brutus, fell at the same time.
Lucilius, a man of great worth, and his intimate
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
189
friend, observed some barbarian horse riding full speed
against Brutus in particular, and was determined to
stop them, though at the hazard of his own life. He
therefore told them that he was Brutus; and they be-
lieved him, because he pretended to be afraid of Cae-
sar, and desired to be conveyed to Antony. Exulting
in their capture, and thinking themselves peculiarly
fortunate, they carried him along with them by night;
having previously sent an account to Antony of their
success, who was infinitely pleased with it, and came
out to them. Many others, likewise, when they heard
that Brutus was brought alive, assembled to see him:
and some pitied his misfortunes, while others accused
him of an inglorious meanness, in suffering the love of
life to betray him into the hands of barbarians. When
he approached, and Antony was deliberating in what
manner he should receive Brutus, Lucilius first ad-
dressed him, and with great intrepidity said, ' Antony,
be assured that Brutus neither is, nor will, be taken
by an enemy. Forbid it Heaven, that Fortune should
have such a triumph over Virtue! Whether he shall
be found alive or dead, he will be found in a state be-
coming Brutus. I imposed on your soldiers, and am
prepared to suffer the worst you can inflict on me. '
Thus spoke Lucilius, to the no small astonishment of
those that were present; when Antony, addressing
himself to those that brought him, said, 'I perceive,
fellow-soldiers, that you are angry at this imposition
of Lucilius; but you have really got a better booty
than you intended. You sought an enemy; but you
have brought me a friend. I know not how I should
have treated Brutus, had you brought him alive; but I
am sure that it is better to have such a man as Luci-
lius for a friend than for an enemy. ' When he said
this he embraced Lucilius, recommending him to the
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? 190
PLUTARCH.
care of one of his friends; and he ever after found him
faithful to his interest.
Brutus, attended by a few of his officers and friends,
having passed a brook that was overhung with cliffs,
and shaded with trees, and being overtaken by night,
stopped in a cavity under a large rock. There, cast-
ing his eyes on the heavens, which were covered with
stars, he repeated two verses; one of which, Volum-
nius tells us, was this: .
Forgive not, Jove, the cause of this distress!
The other, he says, had escaped his memory. On
enumerating the several friends that had fallen before
his eyes in the battle, he sighed deeply at the mention
of Flavius and Labeo; the latter of whom was his
lieutenant, and the former master of the band of arti-
ficers. In the mean while, one of his attendants being
thirsty, and observing Brutus in the same condition,
took his helmet, and went to the brook for water. At
the same time a noise was heard on the opposite bank,
and Volumnius and Dardanus the armor-bearer went
to see what it was. In a short time they returned, and
asked for the water: 'It is all drank up,' said Brutus,
with a smile; 'but another helmet-full shall be fetched. '
The man who had brought the first water was there-
fore sent again; but he was wounded by the enemy,
and made his escape with difficulty.
As Brutus supposed that he had not lost many men
in the battle, Statilius undertook to make his way
through the enemy (for there was no other way) and
see in what condition their camp was. If things were
safe there, he was to hold up a torch for a signal, and
return. He got safe to the camp; for the torch was
held up. But a long time elapsed, and he did not
return. 'If Statilius were alive,' said Brutus, 'he
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
191
would be here. ' In his return he fell into the enemy's
hands and was slain.
The night was now far spent; when Brutus, leaning
his head towards his servant Clitus, whispered some-
thing in his ear. Clitus made no answer, but burst
into tears. After that he took his armor-bearer Dar-
danus aside, and said something to him in private. At
last addressing himself to Volumuius in Greek, he in-
treated him, in memory of their common studies and
exercises, to put his hand to his sword, and help him
to give the thrust. Volumnius, as well as several
others, refused: and one of them observing that they
must necessarily fly; 'We must fly, indeed,' said Bru-
tus, rising hastily, 'but not with our feet, but with our
hands. ' He then took each of them by the hand, and
spoke with great appearance of cheerfulness, to the
following purpose: 'It is an infinite satisfaction to
me that all my friends have been faithful. If I am
angry with Fortune, it is for the sake of my country.
Myself I esteem more happy than the conquerors; not
only in respect of the past, but in my present situation.
I shall leave behind me that reputation for virtue, which
they, with all their wealth and power, will never acquire:
for posterity will not scruple to believe and declare, that
they were an abandoned 6et of men, who destroyed the
virtuous, for the sake of that empire to which they had
no right? After this he intreated them severally to pro-
vide for their own safety, and withdrew with only two
or three of his most intimate friends. One of these was
Strato, with whom he first became acquainted when they
studied rhetoric. This friend he placed next to him-
self, and laying hold of the hilt of his sword with both
his hands, he fell on the point, and died. Some say
that Strato, at the earnest request of Brutus, turned
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? 192
PLUTARCH.
aside his bead, and held the sword; on which he threw
himself with such violence that, entering at his breast,
it passed quite through his body, and he immediately
expired.
Messala, the friend of Brutus, after he was recon-
ciled to Caesar, took occasion to recommend Strato to
his favor. 'This,' said he, with tears, ' is the man who
did the last kind office for my dear Brutus. ' Caesar re-
ceived him with kindness; and he was one of those
brave Greeks who afterwards attended him at the bat-
tle of Actium. Of Messala, it is said, that when Caesar
observed he bad been no less zealous in his service at
Actium than he had been against him at Philippi, he
answered, 'I have always taken the best and justest
side. ' When Antony found the body of Brutus, he
ordered it to be covered with the richest robe he had;
and that being stolen, he put the thief to death. The
ashes of Brutus he sent to his mother Servilia.
With regard to Porcia, his wife, Nicolaus the philo-
sopher, and Valerius Maximus, tell us, that being pre-
vented from that death she wished for, by the constant
vigilance of her friends, she snatched some burning
coals from the fire, and shut them close in her mouth,
till she was suffocated. Notwithstanding, there is a
letter from Brutus to his friends still extant, in which
he laments the death of Porcia, and complains that
their neglect of her must have made her prefer death
to the continuance of her illness: so that Nicolaus
appears to have been mistaken in the time, at least, if
this epistle be authentic; for it describes Porcia's
distemper, her conjugal affection, and the manner of
her death.
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? DIoN AND BRUTUS CoMPARED. 193
DION AND BRUTUS COMPARED.
WHAt is principally to be admired in the lives of Dion
and Brutus, is their rising to such importance from in-
considerable beginnings. But here Dion has the ad-
vantage; for, in the progress of glory, he had no co-
adjutor: whereas Cassius went hand in hand with Bru-
tus; and though, in the reputation of virtue and honor,
he was by no means his equal, in military experience,
resolution and activity, he was not inferior. Some
have imputed to him the origin of the whole enter-
prise, and have asserted that Brutus would never
otherwise have engaged in it. But Dion, at the same
time that he made the whole military preparations him-
self, engaged the friends and associates of his design.
He did not, like Brutus, gain power and riches from
the war; he employed that wealth on which he was to
subsist as an exile in a foreign country, in restoring
the liberties of his own. When Brutus and Cassius
fled from Rome, and found no asylum from the pursuit
of their enemies, their only resource was war; and
they took up arms as much in their own defence as in
that of the common liberty. Dion, on the contrary,
was happier in his banishment than the tyrant that
banished him; and yet he voluntarily exposed himself
to danger for the freedom of Sicily. Besides, to deliver
the Romans from Caesar, and the Syracusans from Dio-
nysius, were enterprises of a very different kind. Diony-
sius was an avowed and established tyrant; and Sicily,
with reason, groaned beneath his yoke. But with re-
spect to Caesar, though, whilst his imperial power was
iu its infancy, he treated his opponents with severity;
yet, as soon as that power was confirmed, the tyranny
was rather a nominal than real thing; for no tyrannical
PLUT. VoL. VII. N
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? 194 ? PLUTARCH.
action could be laid to his charge. Nay, such was the
condition of Rome, that it evidently required a master;
and Caesar was no more than a tender and skilful phy-
sician, appointed by Providence to heal the distempers
of the state. Of course the people lamented his death,
and were implacably enraged against his assassins.
Dion, on the contrary, was reproached by the Syracu-
sans for suffering Dionysius to escape, and not digging
up the former tyrant's grave.
With regard to their military conduct, Dion, as a
general, was without a fault: he not only made the
most of his own instructions, but, where others failed,
he happily repaired the error. But it was wrong in
Brutus to hazard a second battle, where all was at
stake. And when that battle was lost, he had neither
sagacity enough to think of new resources, nor spirit,
like Pompey, to contend with fortune, though he had
still reason to rely on his troops, and was absolute
master at sea.
But what Brutus is chiefly blamed for, was his in-
gratitude to Caesar. He owed his life to his favor, as
well as the lives of those prisoners for whom he inter-
ceded. He was treated as his friend, and distinguished
with particular marks of honor; and yet he imbrued
his hands in the blood of his benefactor. Dion stands
clear of any charge like this. As a relation of Diony-
sius, he assisted and was useful to him in the adminis-
tration; in which case his services were equal to his
honors. When he was driven into exile, and de-
prived of his wife and his fortune, he had every mo-
tive that was just and honorable to take up arms
against him.
Yet if this circumstance is considered in another
light, Brutus will have the advantage. The greatest
glory of both consists in their abhorrence of tyrants,
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? DIoN AND BRUTUS CoMPARED. 195
I
and their criminal measures. This, in Brutus, was not
blended with any other motive. He had no quarrel
with Caesar; but exposed his life for the liberty of his
country. Had not Dion been injured, he had not
fought. This is clear from Plato's epistles; where it
appears that he was banished from the court of Dio-
nysius, and in consequence of that banishment made
war on him. For the good of the community, Brutus,
though an enemy to Pompey, became his friend; and
though a friend to Caesar, he became his enemy. His
enmity and his friendship arose from the same princi-
ple, which was justice. But Dion, whilst in favor, em-
ployed his services for Dionysius; and it was not till
he was disgraced that he armed against him. Of course
his friends were not quite satisfied with his enterprise.
They were apprehensive that when he had destroyed
the tyrant he might seize the government himself, and
amuse the people with some softer title than that of
tyranny. On the other hand, the very enemies of Bru-
tus acknowlege that he was the only conspirator who
had no other view than that of restoring the ancient
form of government.
Besides, the enterprise against Dionysius cannot be
placed in competition with that against Caesar. The
former had rendered himself contemptible by his low-
manners, his drunkenness, and debauchery.
